"Jon Meinecke" wrote in message
.. .
"Johnny Sunset aka Tom Sherman" wrote
Jon Meinecke wrote:

People often mistake USENET newsgroups as sources
for information. Trust the "information" here, at your peril,
indeed!

It is possible for an intelligent and informed person to sort the wheat
from the chaff, and with some research the general credibility of any
regular Usenet poster can be determined with a suitable level of
accuracy.

USENET newsgroups are communities. They vary widely in content
and reliability and inherently dubious as reliable information sources.
An expectation that ARBR or any newsgroup represents all views or a
meritocracy of free ideas is not realistic. Most everyone here
"self censors", and participation is clearly self selected. Some
choose to post not at all, anymore or ever,-- not because their
opinions are uninformed or credibility questionable.

I agree totally with Mr. Meinecke on the above statement. Ed Gin proved once
and for all that newsgroups without any exceptions are for idiots,
scoundrels and criminals. This was something that Mr. Meinecke could do
absolutely nothing about except commiserate on it. One wonders what Mr.
Meinecke is still doing here on ARBR other than honoring us with his august
presence. Not happy on BROL?

On a moderated/censored forum, a non-moderator does not know what
has been suppressed, and furthermore, no one knows what has been
self-censored out of the fear of being banned from the forum.

Once again, the quality and integrity of the moderation is key,--
the general credibility, as you say. If one understands the rules
and trusts their implementation, then the content of moderated
forums (which includes most every medium) can be calibrated.

I would not be caught dead on BROL because Mr. Ball, who owns the forum, is
a liberal nut and thinks that conservatives should not be posting to cycling
groups. But hey, if you are a liberal nut you will be welcome there.
Apparently words like quality and integrity can mean anything you want them
to mean. Mr. Ball has absolutely no credibility with me. I have calibrated
him right out of existence.

A properly designed kitchen, used cooperatively, can accommodate
collaboration of quite a few chefs without overheating.

Usenet is exactly that, for the intelligent reader with proper
analytical skills.

USENET, indeed, like the kitchen is what you/we make it and
make in it. There are moderated and self-moderate USENET
groups. There are groups where flames, vulgar, obscene and
abusive trolling is the norm. There are many groups in the
middle.

Where the hell was Mr. Meinecke when this group was being destroyed by Ed
Gin. He was hiding under the bed. I frankly do not want to hear what this
coward has to say about anything. He is lower than a skunk and is a weasel
besides. Why the hell doesn't he go to BROL and stay there with all the
other liberal scum bags. Old Cletus Lee of Texas will welcome him to the
club.

To presume that people who choose to participate in other forums
rather than USENET and ARBR, do so mainly for heat avoidance,
ignores other and more credible, intelligent reasons. Be careful
of the fallacy of circumstantial ad hominem.

All Mr. Meinecke ever knows what to do when he encounters anyone with whom
he disagrees is to kill file the poor slob. I myself have never recovered
from this affront to my honor and dignity. I propose pistols at dawn down by
the riverside. Mr. Sherman can be your second and I will dragoon some
drunken yahoo from the local bar to be my second. Mr. Meineke will have to
come to SW Minnesota as I am no longer up for any travel.

Regards,

Ed Dolan the Great - Minnesota
aka
Saint Edward the Great - Order of the Perpetual Sorrows - Minnesota